Our Yunguyo border crossing from Peru to Bolivia was relatively straightforward, albeit a little bizarre... the horror stories that we had heard and read about thankfully never materialised - 2 bus changes, 1km of backpack walking, 1 lake crossing and we were on our way to La Paz. As we approached the highest capital city (de facto) in the world (3660m), we were presented with a sensational canyon in which colonial buildings spilled
downwards and on arriving in the town centre, indigenous women sporting perfectly perched bowler hats roamed the market-filled streets. On board our 8 hour road-trip we had befriended an Irish couple who joined us in finding accommodation... at almost 4km above sea-level, staggering up the steep alleyways meant that we were repeatedly gasping for breath (an even moreso with our backpacks on). Having had a minimal biscuit-rich bus 
lunch earlier that afternoon, the 4 of us happily indulged in falafels and beer that night.Our experiences in South America wouldn´t quite be complete without a 
visit to the Amazon Basin, and La Paz proved to be the ideal base to do so from. The following morning, after booking ourselves on a jungle trip to Rurrenabaque with the recommended Indigena Tours, we aimlessly roamed the congested plazas, the snake-shaped alleyways, and in particular the Mercado de las Brujas - Witches Market... having stalls overflowing with spells and potions, the eagle-eyed vendors here also sold shrivelled llama foetuses which were considered 
good-luck charms. That evening whilst in an internet cafe, we were harmlessly approached by a well-spoken, but frail and ragged looking ex-convict who had been released from Santa Cruz prison that very day... we guessed that our conversation with him was just his way of appreciating freedom. This prison had become a real attraction amongst underground travellers... paying 250 Bolivianos to the guards would allow you entry into the prison where you could converse and come face-to-face with the convicts (quite strange paying to go to prison). We had heard that it was mostly full of drug-dealers whose entire families would live inside with them... unique, but disturbing at the same time which is why we had decided against the visit. Next stop... the Amazon.
visit to the Amazon Basin, and La Paz proved to be the ideal base to do so from. The following morning, after booking ourselves on a jungle trip to Rurrenabaque with the recommended Indigena Tours, we aimlessly roamed the congested plazas, the snake-shaped alleyways, and in particular the Mercado de las Brujas - Witches Market... having stalls overflowing with spells and potions, the eagle-eyed vendors here also sold shrivelled llama foetuses which were considered 
good-luck charms. That evening whilst in an internet cafe, we were harmlessly approached by a well-spoken, but frail and ragged looking ex-convict who had been released from Santa Cruz prison that very day... we guessed that our conversation with him was just his way of appreciating freedom. This prison had become a real attraction amongst underground travellers... paying 250 Bolivianos to the guards would allow you entry into the prison where you could converse and come face-to-face with the convicts (quite strange paying to go to prison). We had heard that it was mostly full of drug-dealers whose entire families would live inside with them... unique, but disturbing at the same time which is why we had decided against the visit. Next stop... the Amazon.
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